Amoebiasis

During 1996, at the age of nineteen, Jordan Rubin of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida had arrived at death's door, suffering from the debilitating symptoms of Crohn's disease. This condition is a chronic, inflammatory, abnormality of the bowel, characterized by overlapping clinical pathology, of which medical science has yet to determine a definitive cause or remedy. It produces numerous, severe discomforts that exhibit four common disease patterns: (a) inflammation with pain and tenderness in the right lower part of the abdomen; (b) recurring acute intestinal obstructions that cause deeply painful spasms of the intestinal wall, swelling of the abdomen, persistent diarrhea, and vomiting; (c) chronic intestinal inflammation causing subtle but serious malnutrition and debility; (d) abnormal channels (fistulas) with many pus-filled pockets of infection (abscesses) that produce fever, painful masses in the abdomen, and severe weight loss. Jordan Rubin showed all four of these disease patterns. (1)

For more than two years the young man experienced between twelve and 30 bloody bowel movements per day. They occurred throughout the night as well, allowing him no more than one-hour's sleep at any given time.

Laboratory tests showed that Jordan had no iron in his blood, and his serum measurement of albumin indicated muscle wasting (cachexia). By laboratory standards, this patient's blood was like that of a dead man. His body was affected by candidiasis, amoebiasis, cryptosporidiosis, extreme intestinal dysbiosis, acute electrolyte imbalance, elevated C-reactive protein, anemia, chronic fatigue, arthritis, diabetes, hair loss, and leukocytosis. The chance for recovery by conventional treatment methods remained discouraging, as Jordan was also exhibiting malabsorption syndrome. He could not assimilate the nutrients in food even if he had an appetite. Jordan had dropped so much weight, from 180 to 104 pounds, that he looked like a survivor of a Nazi death camp (see Photograph 1).

Jordan Rubin's quality of life was nonexistent. To find some viable therapy, he consulted over 70 health practitioners worldwide and tried more than 300 different nutritional products, including several probiotic preparations, to no avail. As he explained it to me, "During the two years of my illness, despite my ongoing search for treatment, I was never granted even one day of reprieve from the symptoms of Crohn's disease. The excessive amounts of emotional, physical, and mental distress caused me to wish I would die. All I could do was pray to a compassionate God that the cure for Crohn's disease would someday be found. "And then," he added with a smile, "My prayers were answered!"

What Jordan Discovered

Most people are unaware of the ground-breaking findings of Nobel laureate Elie Metchnikoff, Ph.D., the Russian bacteriologist who more than 91 years ago, documented a direct link between human longevity, and the necessity of maintaining a healthy balance of the beneficial and pathological microorganisms residing in the human gut. Dr. Metchnikoff's 1908 Nobel Prize in physiology had been awarded for his discovery of phagocytes and other immune system components, but his accurate description of vital elements in the body's intestinal flora is equally notable. (2)

Dr. Metchnikoff came to believe that human beings could live to the age of 150 years if they kept the organisms within their intestines in a state of homeostatic balance, by consuming live, fermented foods. This concept, given by Metchnikoff in 1909, forms the basis for prevention of bowel disease and the maintenance of healthy bowel tissue.

Jordan was able to regain his health by supplementing the small amount that he could eat with Homeostatic Soil Organisms (HSOs[TM]) (3). Through natural metabolic processes these organisms promote repair of the lining of the intestine, and help to establish a healthier colonic environment. The HSOs detoxified Jordan's intestinal tract, increased his ability to absorb nutrients from food, and super boosted his immune system. Moreover, they became really aggressive against the pathological molds, yeasts, fungi, and parasites of all types that permeated his gut. (4)

These strains of Homeostatic Soil Organisms are now available in a product called Primal Defense[TM] (3). This formula is comprised of 14 beneficial probiotics, including, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus delbreukii, Lactobacillus caseii, Lactobacillus caucasicus, Lactobacillus fermenti, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus leichmannii, Lactobacillus lactis, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacteria bifidus, and Saccharomyces boulardi. These beneficial organisms restore balance to an autointoxicated gastrointestinal tract in a specific manner. (5)

Upon swallowing and subsequent contact with body fluids, the HSOs activate and bring about gut restoration by attaching themselves to the intestinal mucosa. On the gut wall they reproduce and occupy "receptor sites", crowding out harmful bacteria and fungi. When harmful microorganisms are unable to "attach" to the gut wall, they cannot easily drain nutrients. Weakened, they die and are eliminated or consumed in a "Pac-man" fashion by the phagocytes Dr. Metchnikoff discovered. As harmful microorganisms are removed from the system, the "host" experiences fewer and fewer symptoms. Ultimately, the establishment of HSOs in the colon brings about gut regeneration and homeostasis. (6)

Medical journalist Ann Louise Gittleman, MS, like myself a proponent of supplementing with HSOs, affirms that once they colonize the GI tract, this super strain of probiotics ultimately balances the colonic pH, to set the stage for restoring all body systems. Ingesting HSOs allows people to achieve optimum health, by supplying them with the nutrients they would ordinarily be receiving had they eaten food derived from nutrient dense soil. HSOs are beneficial bacteria responsible for providing plants (vegetables and fruits) with the nutrients they require. HSOs are absorbed by the plants and become protectors against harmful invaders. In that way HSOs keep plants healthy and loaded with nutritional components that become a source of nourishment for humans. The same thing occurs when we ingest probiotics. The beneficial organisms keep the human GI tract in a state of homeostasis by increasing intestinal absorption and keeping it free of parasites, yeasts, molds, fungi, harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens. The friendly flora in each person's gastrointestinal tract is an integral and vital part of his or her immune system, and absolutely essential for its effective functioning. (7) Probiotics synthesize the B-complex vitamins, crowd out yeast and parasites, help regulate blood cholesterol levels, and produce antibiotic compounds.

The beneficial and harmful microorganisms in a person's gut, become out of balance due to a series of unhealthy lifestyle practices such as: (a) high intake of alcohol; (b) eating foods laden with pesticides, herbicides, antibiotic residues, and hormonal pollutants; (c) the overconsumption of sugars and other refined carbohydrates; (d) the lack of fresh living foods grown in nutrient-rich soil; and (e) everyday stress. These conditions are the precursors for assorted GI tract dysfunctions including malabsorption syndrome, celiac disease, lactose intolerance, polyps, intestinal obstruction, colon cancer, diarrhea, constipation, inflammatory bowel diseases, diverticular disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, appendicitis, fistulas, fissures, hemorrhoids, peritonitis, hernia, leaky gut syndrome, etc. (8)

I met with Jordan recently in Boca Raton, Florida, five years after his illness. His appearance had significantly improved, and so had his gastrointestinal health (See Photograph 3). 0 Development of a New and Potent Probiotic Formula

An inquiry came from a chiropractor who had been stricken with intestinal polyps, renal carcinoma and degenerative arthritis affecting his back, left shoulder, and neck. He was additionally burdened by avascular necrosis of the left jaw and left shoulder. This unfortunate man also had three damaged vertebrae, which had been injured from violent spasms arising from abdominal cramping, the result of end-stage Crohn's disease. The patient's Crohn's disease left him with nerve damage in the left leg and the right hand along with a crushed lumbar spine. He lost 51 pounds and was written off by numerous attending physicians who agreed that he couldn't possibly live another year. The former chiropractor (who no longer practices as a DC) is Scott G. Robinson, Ph.D., LRC, DC, of Vista California (a suburb of San Diego). Currently his occupation is as a home-care trainer for the chronic and terminally ill under the auspices of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Duluth, Minnesota.

Dr. Robinson had refused chemotherapy for kidney cancer at the University of Southern California Medical Center and instead used natural and nontoxic therapies. "Learning about Homeostatic Soil Organisms back then, lead me to search out these very special probiotics. Within about three days of taking them, normal peristalsis returned, my gut relaxed, and I no longer experienced painful spasms. Now, when I counsel cancer patients, I advise them to replenish their colonic microflora by adding HSOs to their diet. It is critical for these patients to replace the friendly gut bacteria, which have been destroyed by conventional cancer treatment. "As for me", affirms Dr. Scott Robinson, "I am now feeling better and happier with my health, as maintained by the HSOs."

Prominent Physicians Use Primal Defense

During my investigation of Primal Defense, I interviewed 31 Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) professionals who use nutritional support in their practices. Those interviewed included medical doctors, chiropractors, naturopaths, osteopaths, acupunc-turists, nutritional counselors, colon hydrotherapists, and other CAM practitioners. Case reports and other positive response from these health professionals, indicated their confidence in the ability of Primal Defense to improve overall health and well being.

James Privatera, MD, of Covina, California, a medical doctor for 30 years, says, "I recommend quite a bit of Primal Defense to patients with persistent bowel toxemia, and irritable bowel syndrome. I attest to Primal Defense being a superior product for enhancing gut metabolism."

From Payson, Arizona, the highly respected physician, Garry F. Gordon, MD, affirms, "There is magic in the actions of Primal Defense. I employ this product personally to great advantage. For instance, it definitely changed my propensity for intestinal gas. I've tried all types of products from around the world, but nothing else has helped me to overcome bloating and gas like the combination in HSOs."

A board-certified gastro-enterologist Joseph Brasco, MD, of Schaumburg, Illinois, says: "I believe Primal Defense is applicable as a food supplement for everyone, whether a person is sick or not. Since my expertise lies in the area of gastrointestinal disorders, I routinely recommend Primal Defense as the primary product for improving gastro-intestinal health. It is one of the main tools I use for nutritional support to normalize bowel function."

The Primal Defense Delivery System and Its Components

Primal Defense is designed to supply all of the living nutrients present in pristine, healthy soil. There are three components:

(1) The beneficial bacteria from both soil and plant life, which include HSOs, are combined with very hardy, plant-based probiotic organ-isms. Many people don't realize, that vegetables and greens are natural sources of probiotic organisms such as Lactobacillus. Before the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides, people consumed these beneficial bacteria on a regular basis along with their fresh produce. These organisms are resistant to chlorine, fluorine, ascorbic acid, hydrochloric acid, heat, cold, and pH extremes, and can't be destroyed in the same way as ordinary probiotics. The probiotics contained in Primal Defense are integrated within a whole food substrate. These microbes are so hardy that there is no need to include billions of CFUs in order to be effective. In this case, it's not quantity; it's quality.

(2) Also present in Primal Defense are quantities of Phyto-Sterols and Sterolins. These plant lipids aid the immune system to function at peak levels. Phyto-Sterols/ Sterolins are indispensable in attaining optimal health. These bio-active molecules have been virtually removed from the consumer's food supply by overprocessing. Primal Defense supplies these essential nutrients in easily absorbable, effective amounts.

(3) HSOs are delivered in a base of whole food concentrates, particularly green foods such as phytoplankton and cereal grasses, which are an excellent medium for the organisms. Thus, the probiotics in Primal Defense are not isolated but rather they grow within the whole food as a rich source of nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and chlorophyll. These green plants are lacto-fermented and enzymatically pre-digested utilizing a proprietary natural method called Poten-Zyme (Poten-tiation by Enzym-atic activation). This activation process creates and liberates valuable bioactive compounds, greatly enhancing availability and absorption. (9)

Instead of using three separate sets of nutritional components, Primal Defense delivers all of them together as one live food matrix.

Leitia Devine, OMD, LAc Enjoys Using Primal Defense

"My clinical results have been excellent with the use of Primal Defense as a nutritional supplement for patients with diarrhea, constipation, or bloating", says Leitia Devine, OMD, LAc, a doctor of Oriental Medicine and licensed acupuncturist practicing in Newhall, California. "Right now I'm finding it beneficial for strengthening the immune system of people in this area, who have been exposed to a strain of intestinal flu. Primal Defense has become my product of choice for prevention.

"Let me qualify my praise for the product; it's not knocking out this rare strain of flu all by itself, as adjunctive remedies are needed too. But those unique HSOs and other foodstuffs in the Primal Defense formula, do stop any recurrence of my patients' infections.

"As for prevention of gastric ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori, nothing works better than Primal Defense. And, these probiotics are so much safer for my patients than taking antibiotics," says Dr. Devine. "The product's friendly bacteria immediately coat the stomach's lining and stop the patients' heartburn, stomach pain, nausea, and bloating. Plus, Primal Defense is absolutely a Godsend for the elimination of Candida albicans infections. There is nothing I know of that could replace the HSOs for destroying those two particular organisms, one a bacterium and the other a fungus.

Dr. Irv Rosenberg Counsels on Taking Primal Defense

"I have personally been taking Primal Defense for over two years, and I am sure that is the reason I have perfect functioning of my gastrointestinal tract. It is quite evident to me that having regular, comfortable bowel movements comes directly from daily ingestion of HSOs," Says Doctor of Pharmacy Irving Rosenberg, proprietor of The Apothecary, a compounding pharmacy located in Bethesda, Maryland.

"Each week I counsel up to 20 cancer patients about appropriate nutritional practices for restoring their health, and the ingestion of Primal Defense invariably is among my first recommendations," Dr. Rosenberg states. "It is my intention that these cancer patients should maintain or improve their quality of life, and this product helps them accomplish it for themselves.

"The product also works well for people suffering from yeast syndrome. Their improvements are subtle but steady, and they do get better. Since 1981, I have been counseling clients who are beset by candidiasis, and I was called a quack and heretic by the media, but that's not the case any longer. Now I'm referred to as a visionary quite simply because products like Primal Defense have come on the market and my pharmacy makes them available. One of the wonderful parts about getting older is that we live the history of this evolving holistic health field," says Dr Rosenberg, who recently reached his 70th birthday.

"More than eight million dollars of my compounding pharmacy's sales involves nutritional products. Primal Defense has been reaching for the top of the market. It's among my nutraceutical best sellers, and it has achieved that status in a very short time.

"In my opinion, these homeostatic soil organisms should be taken routinely by all persons interested in preventive medical practices. For example, if you are about to travel to a third-world country, Primal Defense[TM] should be started as a food supplement about a week before your journey as a prevention against "Montezuma's revenge." It does a fine job as a repellant for parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, and the amoebic protozoa which causes dysentary," Dr. Irv Rosenberg states. "For prevention, take one or two doses twice daily. Although containing probiotics, these pills don't need refrigeration since they become activated upon contact with stomach acids."

More Parasite Defense offered by Sheldon Nelson, DO

Speaking with me from Warren, Michigan, Sheldon Nelson, DO does a lot of soft tissue manipulation for his patients, but nutritional counseling comprises most of his treatment, especially for chronic illnesses. "Almost everyone whose bowel function or integrity has been impaired, improves their health and maintains a healthier colonic environment, when they increase their consumption of probiotic bacteria," advises Dr. Nelson. "I invariably use one of the lactobacillus preparations and the HSOs in Primal Defense as the top of the line Cadillac of Lactobacilli."

"It does more than just recolonize. As the patient's body undergoes its detoxification, a kind of Herxheimer's reaction often sets in, along with increases in bowel function. I have the patient drink large amounts of water, at least the number of ounces equivalent to half his or her body weight in pounds. A 200-pound man would therefore need to drink 100 ounces of water, about three quarts daily," says Dr. Nelson. "Drinking so much water combined with Primal Defense in quantity will lead them to good solid bowel movements and a normal, healthy gut."

"HSOs are particularly effective for the elimination of parasites, since they work to enhance the whole cleansing function. One family came to me en mass--six members--for the elimination of their hookworms," Dr. Nelson notes. "All of them took Primal Defense in amounts ranging from six a day for the teenagers to 20 daily for the father. They finally got rid of their parasites."

"In another case, Harriet Clauson visited me for nutritional support of her chronic fatigue, systemic candidiasis, obesity, and the stress of raising eight young children. Having no energy and experiencing overwhelming depression, she was at the point of collapse. Mrs. Clauson realized that she was eating junk foods which kept her malnourished, despite being grossly overweight," states Dr. Nelson. "She was on antidepressants and prescription drugs to calm her gut, and antibiotics as therapy for recurrent bacterial infections of the sinuses, the ears and the skin. My program included Primal Defense in a dosage that advanced in quantity each day, until she reached twelve daily. She stayed at that dosage for a month until she could maintain her health on only two a day.

"Harriet Clauson's improvement steadily took hold so that she no longer needed antidepressants or other prescription drugs. She is eating correctly and liking the good food, which allows her to lose excessive weight in a healthy manner. To this point, Mrs. Clauson has lost 40 lbs and has regained her energy. Parasites, which were once thriving in her gut, have left her body in well-formed stools. There is no longer diarrhea or constipation for this patient, and it is due to the excellence that comes from taking HSOs faithfully," affirms Dr. Sheldon Nelson. "I see the same results in many patients."

Resources

For more information about Primal Defense or to locate a fine health store near you, visit the Garden of Life website at www.gardenoflifeusa.com or call: 800-622-8986.

References

(1.) The Merck Manuel of Medical Information, Home Edition. (Whitehouse Station, N.J.: Merck & Co. Inc., 1997) p. 528

(2.) Encyclopedia Americana, International Edition. (New York City: Americana Corp., 1966) Volume 18, p. 712

(3.) Trademark of Garden of Life

(4.) Osipova IG, Sorokulova IB, Tereshlina NV, Grigor'eva LV. Safety of bacteria of the genus Bacillus, forming the base of some probiotics. Zh Mikrobiol Epidemiol Immunobiol. 1998 Nov-Dec;(6):68-70 and Rolfe, R.D., 2000. The role of probiotic cultures in the control of gastrointestinal health. Journal of Nutrition, 130 (2S Suppl.): 396S-402S.

(5.) Sanders, ME, 1999. Probiotics. Institute of Food Technologists' Expert Panel on Food Safety and Nutrition, 53(11) 67-77.

(6.) Walker, M. "Soil-based organisms support immune system functions from the ground up," Townsend Letter for Doctors & Patients 169/170:85-92, Aug/Sept 1997

(7.) Gittleman, A.J. Beyond Probiotics. (Los Angeles, California: Keats Publishing division of NTC Contemporary Publishing Group, 1998) p. 20

(8.) Batch, J.F. and Walker, M. Heartburn and What To Do About It. (Garden City Park: New York: Avery Publishing Group, 1998) p. 41-44

RELATED ARTICLE: Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, uses Primal Defense to supplement her autistic son's diet.

Two years ago, through her contacts with the Autistic Society of Great Britain, registered nutritional counselor Natasha Campbell-McBride, MD, medical director of the Be Healthy Nutritional Consultants Clinic of East Anglia, a suburb of Cambridge, England, learned of Primal Defense. Parents attending this autism support group revealed that HSOs had become an important part of their children's diet. Dr. Campbell-McBride's seven-year-old son Normie, had been affected by autism from the age of three, his condition further complicated by recurrent diarrhea. From another mother in the autism society, Dr. Campbell-McBride acquired capsules of the probiotic HSOs specifically to normalize her son's bowel movements--which worked very successfully. As Normie continued taking the HSOs his mother observed that his social and language skills began to improve. Because he was able to stop repeating himself, and control his unconscious muscle movements, he developed successful peer relationships.

A mother as well as a physician, Dr. Campbell-McBride is enthusiastic about Primal Defense as a source of probiotics for children. "Children with autism do not have normal gut functioning," she explains, "Often they are infected with Candida albicans and Clostridium. The metabolites of these cultures reek havoc in the gastrointestinal tracts of autistic children. Such infected children fail to develop normally. However, if the parents put their little patients on a dairy-free diet and supplement their food with Primal Defense, much improvement in their communication skills occurs. By using these probiotics, parents of autistic children will see a change for the better. Many symptoms of their autism disappear and do not return. This happened for my son."

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